That doesn't sound like much fun. I've been thinking of even more aspects they could add to the game--such as merchant ships instead of mysteriously just having trade between nations. It would be a blast to set up a naval blockade. That would help me against the French right now, since other nations keep selling them technology... how am I supposed to crush them into a paste with my Tanks if they keep getting to upgrade?

I really dig the wireless capability of the PS3. I've never been one for on-line gaming, though. I don't want the rest of the world to know how bad I am at video games. You'd think all these years of playing would eventually pay off?

That doesn't sound like much fun. I've been thinking of even more aspects they could add to the game--such as merchant ships instead of mysteriously just having trade between nations. It would be a blast to set up a naval blockade. That would help me against the French right now, since other nations keep selling them technology... how am I supposed to crush them into a paste with my Tanks if they keep getting to upgrade?

yes, the silver account lets you download game demos, xbox live arcade games, buy exclusive DL content for games ect. Basically lets you do everything the Gold allows except play online mulitplayer. The only thing you are really paying for on the gold account is the ability to play online

yes, arcade games and DL content cost money to buy. The arcade games all have free demo's that you can DL to see if it is worthy of a buy or not. MOst arcade games are 400 or 800 MS points, (400 pts = $6.25 US).. a few games cost 1200 points. Most game content (extra levels, features, game types, ect.) typically cost 800 pts.)

I think I have 3 arcade games which were free through temporary 'give aways' upon release. after a week or so they upped the price to 800 pts... so if you snooze you lose.

You can also buy Tv shows and rent movies in HD, but they are overpriced and generally not a good deal at all.

I pay 50 bucks per year for my gold account which allows me to play online multiplayer too.

I played the original Civilizations on my 386 my junior year of college. Back then, hardly anyone had a computer in their dorm room and I had people I barely knew in my room all night playing that game, many times while I was trying to sleep... I'd wake up at 8AM and the same person was still sitting there playing...

I played Panzer General 2 both on a console and PC and the on a console and it sucked. The game was designed for a mouse so the console control pad was very awkward to use for selecting and moving units. I’ve come to prefer my 1st and 3rd person games on the console and strategy games on the PC, the respective interfaces just seem more intuitive that way.

I can’t see how they could simplify it enough to be easily playable on a console and still have the appeal of Civ, well maybe it will have a different appeal which begs the question why not just design a different game.

Well if it helps keep turn-based strategy games alive then I’m all for it.

This is not a port of a pc version but an entirely new version built directly for consoles. I picked it up last night (had to call several different stores because they were sold out).

I played for a while last night and it's a blast! I can not compare it to any recent civ games, and can not really compare it to civ 1 because it has been SOOOOO long since I have played that one.

I have found it to be very easy and intuitive to control with the 360 controller and have found that their is sufficient depth in the game to allow for some pretty good strategy-style gameplay. I think the americans and the chinese are kicking my butt (looks like americans are going for a war victory and chinese are going for a technology victory.) I am playing on the middle dificulty (out of 5 available), and am using the greeks. I will mention that I am accustomed to playing games on the console and not on a pc, so for someone who is the other way around the controls may not seem as smooth. For anyone who regularly plays console games the controller works very well.

The online multiplayer is suppose to be pretty cool but haven't tried it out yet. Two people on my friends list were in a 4 person online game and I asked them what it was like but got no response (having to much fun perhaps?)

They have a "game of the week feature", and every sunday they post a new single player scenario with the same map, starting point, ect. Xbox live peeps can compete for top ranking/score on this game of the week... kinda neat.

I spent some time researching the techs needed for mathematics, (alphabet, pottery, masonry) so that I could build some catapults. Problems is, by the time I drove my catapults down to wipeout the neighboring Zulu village, they had rifle men that were pretty tough!

The games can go fairly quick in comparison with PC civs from what I read, but IMO the overall experience is an "A".

This one was 19 hours, but I spent a lot of time not actually playing, or working on strategy. The one previous (that I won pretty handily with a tech victory) took 8. I've had one that took 2 or 3, but that was a duel, and I took him out before either of us had reached the middle ages.

Def. a much more in depth game than the console version. I think the game lasts a couple of hours or so. I think the main thing that contribute to this are smaller worlds and less rival civilizations (4). I need to work on my civ skills a little bit and then I am going to hit the online. The faster paced style should make it perfect for an evening online match against 3 other friends.

hmm... If you weren't actually playing or working on a strategy what were you doing?

I've been VERY curious about how this game would play on a console. I've been a huge fan of the series since Civ2 came out. I still play IV on my PC. I sure would like to try it before dumping $60 though. I don't play console games much at all.

Thanks for the link, I will definatly give it a try just not sure when. I tend to obsess about strategy games and don’t want one to eat up all my time while I still have a big backlog of console games to enjoy.

Ha, no anyway I bought the guide because I am finding the game fairly difficult on the middle setting. I think I am not generating enough science so it takes me to long to learn new techs... I rolled up to the egyptions with armies and armies of upgraded "ninja catapults" with a +50% attack bonus vs cities and a general that added to my attack as well.. I was thinking to myself "these guys are toast."

Then just after I wage war on them about 3 planes come flying by dropping bombs on all of my armies...

So I bought the game a week ago and finally had a chance to sit down and play it on Sunday.

Wow, I really like it!! I've never been into these types of games, but this one's fun. Talk about time flying by without knowing it. Stayed up way too late last night.

Played the tutorial level and got through that in an hour or so. Last night I tried the next difficulty and got myself a cultural victory!! Only after sandbagging it for many turns with my mighty army, though. I thought for sure the computer was going to dominate--I could hardly win any battle at the beginning. Then, I turned the corner and started stomping on everyone.

I'm sure the computer will put me in my place when I try the next difficulty. Games are good at humbling me.

He’s really mastered the art of playing the other players off against each other which is how he did it. I think the best culture victory I’ve ever gotten was at prince and even then it was a close run thing.

I have no clue how to even begin to do that. I mean, I'll benefit from other players fighting, if they ever do, but I don't know how to cause it, other than making alliances, attacking someone, then trying to make peace before my ally does.

He mostly plays “Civ4 Warlords” and “Beyond the Sword“. I’m not sure if the diplomacy translates from those to “Revolution.” As he explained it to me it’s all about knowing which AIs you can deal with and which you just have to take out before they come for you. Build up a big war chest and use it to bribe AIs to either leave you alone and/or attack each other. Taking advantage of the war by going after them when they are weak. He’s also said it best to bait them into attacking you when you want a war so you don’t take the diplomatic hit. I tell you he’s got this game down to a science and all on his own as he hates the internet. But then he and I have wargamed since the 1960s so turn based strategy games are second nature to him.